Final Fantasy XIV will have a number of Worlds/Servers, and they are aiming for a
capacity of 5,000-6,000 simultaneous connections. The exact amount of Worlds has not
yet been decided, but they have plans to add more Worlds as user demand increases.
the they can say is that they will work hard to exceed the amount of Worlds contained
within Final Fantasy XI! When asked whether they plan to have as many as 30 Worlds
upon launch, Tanaka states that he does not believe that many will be required so
soon. Final Fantasy XI started with 16, but it grew gradually with a Windows
release, NA release and EU release, so it will at less be more than that it is
assumed.
If you were diligent in acquiring your Mog Satchel, those Square Enix IDs and
Security Tokens we set up are going to come in handy. As Square Enix revealed
yesterday in a response to a series of questions from ZAM, the Security Tokens will
be used to secure Final Fantasy XIV accounts and PlayOnline will not be used as a
portal for accessing the game. Tanaka further explains that exclusively using the
Square Enix ID also allows them to be more flexible with the payment plan. He
expresses interest in switching from a monthly plan to one that charges in 30-day
increments. As for being able to purchase in-game items with real money, the
developers indicate they are not considering the option at this time.
Some may find it ironic that Rapture was first announced four years ago at an E3
Microsoft press conference, yet is now touted as a PS3 console-exclusive title.
However, the interest appears to be there for an Xbox360 port, but Tanaka laments
that they just have not been able to reach a full compromise with Microsoft yet.
Talks will continue, but there is no more comment on whatever progress may have taken
place.
One concern certainly being voiced across many forums is the fate of Final Fantasy XI
in the face of this new release. Well, rest assured that Vana’diel will persist well
after the release of Final Fantasy XIV. Tanaka admits that while players can play
both games simultaneously, it could be quite taxing on one’s free time. However, he
reiterates that the focus for XIV is having a variety of content that allows you to
spend your time how you want and still progress. In the end, it is up to the player
if they want to remain in XI, try out XIV, or maintain a presence in both games.
Users are encouraged to explore the full freedom both games offer.
Besides the visual similarities between the characters you create, there will be no
solid connection between Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV. There will also be
no character transfers, but they are investigating a way in which you can carry your
preferred name over from XI. The developers stress that they want to maximize the
comfort for community members transferring from one game to the other. Character
transfers would take people out of XI, when the goal is to encourage freedom of play,
rather than bunch everyone into one game or the other. The ideal would be enabling
you to play with your friends in either XI or XIV as you so choose. Tanaka even
states there was an initial plan to add a new door to the Mog House that would exit
into Eorzea, much like a portal to a new dimension. However, the technical hurdles
involved in accomplishing such a feat were too much to overcome. Some things they
can do, however, include transferring over Linkshells or Friend Lists to Final
Fantasy XIV. Still, none of this is set in stone yet.
Jumping back to Final Fantasy XI for a bit, we are able to shed a little light of
hope for the devout denizens of Vana’diel. We know updates are planned out for the
next year, but will development cease after that? When pressed on this issue, Tanaka
gives a reassuring “no” to the idea the development would cease, and says that
updates will continue as long as there are users to support. The Final Fantasy XI
team has already been multi-tasking on Final Fantasy XIV for several years now, so
there is no reason to think they will suddenly drop the game now. Players are
encouraged to look forward to more updates, including the next add-on scenario, A
Moogle Kupo d’Etat.
Final Fantasy XIV will also have a strong story backing up the gameplay. Like Final
Fantasy XI, the story will be epic in scale, having the feel of a single-player
title. Rich, full cut scenes will also become a staple of this title. When asked
whether the game will feature voice acting for NPCs, the developers simply gave a nod
and a wink and asked that we all “wait and see.” Crystals will also be back with a
role in the story, but again, players should expect to see them take a unique form
this time around.
In the end, Final Fantasy XIV is all about taking the latest hardware and cutting-
edge technology and developing a unique experience that really delivers for all types
of players. Long time fans of the series can look forward to a truly amazing world
in which they can immerse themselves, while faithful players of Final Fantasy XI have
unexplored lands to tame alongside those whom with they have forged lasting
friendships throughout their time in Vana’diel. However, Final Fantasy XI will be
here to stay, and Square Enix made sure to convey the idea that the users who brought
them this far will not be abandoned.